Ferguson College of Agriculture

 

Craig Edwards, Oklahoma State University agricultural education professor, was named the 2024 Sarkeys Distinguished Professor Award recipient. This award, in honor of Elmo Baumann, was created in 1980 to honor OSU faculty who have made contributions to the industry through any of the three land-grant pillars: teaching, research or Extension.

 

Edwards began his career at OSU in 2002 as the director of student teaching, where he aided in the development of more than 300 student teachers. Over the years, his role has changed from director of student teaching to now mainly teaching graduate and some undergraduate courses. Over his career, Edwards has authored or co-authored more than 100 peer-reviewed journal articles along with nearly 300 research conference presentations.

 

Along with the courses taught and articles produced, Edwards played a big role in the Mandela Washington Fellowship Institute, overseeing the program from 2017 to 2019. Through this program, over the span of three years, Edwards helped welcome 75 food and agricultural entrepreneurs from 32 different sub-Saharan African countries to the OSU campus to help develop and serve these individuals.

 

Edwards said the opportunity he has to work with bright young people is one of the highlights of his career. Edwards has served on many graduate committees and has chaired 15 doctoral degree committees. He said his interaction with students would be one of the things he will miss after he retires.

 

“That is one of the things I am going to miss about working in a place like this, is that you get to work with some true highflyers,” Edwards said.

 

While he is getting close to hitting the 45-year mark on his time in schooling and academia, Edwards reflects on the people with whom he has worked. There is no doubt that Edwards has achieved many great things throughout his career, but he said this was not something he could accomplish on his own.

 

“I am closing in on 45 years of being an educator … it takes a village. Nobody is doing anything by themselves,” Edwards said. “You got faculty that help you. You work with staff that assist you, students that you try to work with closely and collaborate.”

 

Shane Robinson, department head of the OSU Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Leadership, has worked with Edwards since 2007. Upon his start at OSU as an assistant professor, he quickly noted Edwards’ talents and teaching capabilities and began to look up to him as a mentor, Robinson said. Now working with Edwards for nearly 20 years, Robinson said Edwards has helped improve both students and faculty at OSU.

 

“He demands excellence from others and holds himself to the same standard,” Robinson said. “His attention to detail and focus on rigor elevates our entire department, which leads to higher levels of scholarly impact and success for our students and faculty.”

 

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